The optimal form of the scanning near-field optical microscopy probe

Abstract

A theoretical approach to determine the optimal form of the near-field optical microscope probe is proposed. An analytical expression of the optimal probe form with subwavelength aperture has been obtained. The advantages of the probe with the optimal form are illustrated using numerical calculations. The conducted calculations show 10 times greater light throughput and the reception possibility of the more compactly localized light at the output probe aperture which could indicate better spatial resolution of the optical images in near-field optical technique using optimal probe.